Heating, Cooling & Air Quality

What Size Portable Air Conditioner Do I Need?

choose correct btu capacity

To choose the right portable air conditioner, start by calculating your room's square footage: multiply length by width, then compare that number to a unit's cooling capacity. BTUs measure cooling power, but the SACC rating gives a more realistic picture of what a portable unit can actually handle in real conditions.

Sun-facing windows, high ceilings, weak insulation, and extra people in the room can all increase cooling needs beyond the base square footage calculation. Getting the size wrong in either direction has consequences: an undersized unit will struggle to cool the space, while an oversized one wastes energy and money. Here's how to narrow down the right size for your specific room.